Registan — Ulugh Beg's Celestial Tiles
Decipher the cosmic tiles hidden in Registan's madrasas by Ulugh Beg, the astronomer-prince. Uncover his secret star map before its celestial prophecy is lost forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the heart of 15th-century Samarkand, Ulugh Beg, grandson of Tamerlan and brilliant astronomer, constructed the Ulugh Beg Madrasa on Registan Square
Registan — Ulugh Beg's Celestial Tiles
You are an apprentice astronomer in 15th-century Samarkand, summoned by Ulugh Beg himself to decipher celestial and architectural secrets.
Your mission starts at the 35-meter-high
Dive into the heart of Samarkand, where the celestial tiles of the madrasahs tell the astronomical ambition of Ulugh Beg and the splendor of the Timurid Empire.
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins in front of the Ulugh Beg Madrasah, built between 1417 and 1420. This masterpiece of Timurid architecture, commissioned by Ulugh Beg himself, served as a center for astronomy and higher education. Its turquoise tiles, adorning the 35-meter-high main portal, evoke the heavens that the sultan-astronomer studied from the adjacent observatory, erected in 1420. The precise astronomical tables calculated by Ulugh Beg were kept here, making Samarkand a beacon of medieval science. This site is a key component of the Registan, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001.
Cross Registan Square, an architectural ensemble formed in the 15th and 17th centuries, the beating heart of ancient Timurid Samarkand. This 275m x 225m square was a place of Quranic and scientific teaching, hosting up to 8000 students in the 17th century. Facing you is the Cher-Dor Madrasah, erected between 1619 and 1636 under the order of Yalangtush Bahadur, its 38-meter-high entrance portal being the tallest in the Registan. Its facade is adorned with mosaics depicting tigers chasing gazelles and human suns, rare motifs in Timurid Islam, which defy the artistic conventions of the time.
Your journey leads you to the Tilya Kori Madrasah, built from 1646 to 1660 by Sultan Abdul Aziz Khan. This edifice served as both a madrasah and a mosque, with an inner courtyard of 60m x 50m framed by two 23-meter minarets. Its name, 'gilded', comes from its lavishly decorated interior of 8000 m² of gilding and paintings. This artistic richness testifies to the power and prosperity of Samarkand in the 17th century, contrasting with the scientific austerity of the Ulugh Beg Madrasah. The Tilya Kori Madrasah is also a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.
Return to the Ulugh Beg Madrasah for a new perspective. An observation platform, located on the roof, offers a panoramic view of Registan Square. Accessible via internal staircases, it is popular for nocturnal photos of the illuminated madrasahs. This site, mentioned on Yandex Maps with 2035 reviews, allows you to appreciate the grandeur of the architectural complex and understand how these three madrasahs, although built at different times, form a harmonious whole, bearing witness to the evolution of Timurid architecture and the history of Samarkand.
As you complete this Registan Square circuit, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you will have deciphered the layers of Samarkand's history. From Ulugh Beg's scientific legacy in the 15th century, through Yalangtush Bahadur's artistic audacity in the 17th century, to the golden splendor of Tilya Kori, each monument will have revealed a facet of this mythical city. You leave not only with knowledge of Timurid architecture but also with an intimate understanding of the soul of Samarkand, an interactive visiting experience that goes beyond simple tourism.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Ancient Astronomy
Explore the secrets of stars and planets as observed by Ulugh Beg.
Sacred Geometry
Uncover the mathematical codes hidden within Timurid architecture.
Cosmic Symbolism
Decipher the meaning of celestial motifs and glazed tiles.
The stars hold no more secrets for those who can read their messages.
Decipher the sky in stone.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Dive into the heart of Samarkand, where the celestial tiles of the madrasahs tell the astronomical ambition of Ulugh Beg and the splendor of the Timurid Empire.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
Other escape games in Registan Square, Samarkand
See all games in Registan Square, Samarkand→More ideas for self-guided walking tours, scavenger hunts & city quests in the same city
Registan — Secret of the Gypsum Heads
Uncover the forbidden secret of Tamerlane's gypsum heads hidden in Registan's madrasas. Decode clues from ancient tiles to expose a deadly conspiracy before the curse claims you.
Samarkand — Riddle of the Sundial
Uncover the forgotten sundial's coded message hidden by Ulugh Beg's astronomers. Decipher celestial riddles across the ruins to reveal a secret that doomed the observatory.
Samarkand — Tamerlan's Cursed Legacy
Uncover the cursed legacy of Tamerlan in Samarkand's Registan. Decode riddles at Timurid monuments to break the ancient malediction before it claims another heir.
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